New Book by Historic New Orleans Collection Co-Written by LSU Professor Emeritus, Features Photographs by LSU Photographer

02/17/2011 03:01 PM

BATON ROUGE – A recently released book, published by the Historic New Orleans Collection, or HNOC, chronicling historical furniture forms, was co-written by LSU College of Art & Design Professor H. Parrott Bacot and features photography by Jim Zietz of the LSU Office of Communications and University Relations.

Released in December 2010, “Furnishing Louisiana: Creole and Acadian Furniture, 1735-1835” is the first major book to examine the early furniture of the Mississippi River valley and is a much-anticipated addition to the field of decorative arts scholarship. Featuring more than 1,200 full-color illustrations, the book presents a comprehensive catalogue of furniture forms produced in the upper and lower Mississippi River valley, along with contextual essays on the cabinetmakers who created early Louisiana furniture; the hardware and the woods, native and exotic, employed in this craft; the art of inlay as it developed locally; the import trade at the Port of New Orleans; and the interior of the early Louisiana home.

Along with Bacot, the book was written by Jack D. Holden, Cybèle T. Gontar, Brian J. Costello and Francis. J. Puig. Jessica Dorman and Sarah R. Doerries served as the book’s editors, and Tana Coman designed the book.

Bacot received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree from the State University of New York, Cooperstown. He also studied at both LSU and the National Trust Summer School for the Study of the Historic Country Houses of England.

In his LSU career, Bacot served as curator of the LSU Museum of Art before becoming its director and, later, executive director of the LSU Museum Complex. He also taught art history at LSU. He has contributed to numerous exhibition catalogues, books and articles, as well as serving as a consultant to historic house museums and preservation organizations including Magnolia Mound Plantation in Baton Rouge, Kent Plantation House in Alexandria, the Pilgrimage Garden Club in Natchez, Miss. and the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Zietz serves as senior photographer and information technology coordinator for the LSU Office of Communications & University Relations, and began his photographic career at age 14. Away from LSU and other long-term projects, he works on his personal photography, which he exhibits in galleries and group shows around the country.

“Furnishing Louisiana” book signings

To celebrate the release of the book, HNOC will hold two signings in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and one in New Orleans Wednesday, on Feb. 23.

The first Baton Rouge signing will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the State Library of Louisiana, located at 701 N. 4th Street. The second signing will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, located at 2590 CitiPlace Court.

The New Orleans signing, which also features a reception event, will take place Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Historic New Orleans Collection, located at 533 Royal Street.

All signing events will feature all five authors, both editors, Zeitz and Coman.

Copies of the book are available at bookstores throughout the region and will be available for purchase at both events.

Founded in 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center and publisher dedicated to the preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

For more information on HNOC or “Furnishing Louisiana: Creole and Acadian Furniture, 1735-1835,” visit www.hnoc.org or call 504-523-4662.